Releasing her first single in 1959, she struggled to launch her career from segregated New Orleans as a teenage waitress with 4 children in the early 60's. Now, finally undergoing a late career renaissance on the Rounder label, much of her most enduring work was produced in the early 1960's by Allen Toussaint for Minit Records, and she also recorded for other labels including Imperial, Chess, and Atlantic, eventually retiring for a period before reviving her career in earnest in the late 1980's.
Thomas is perhaps best known outside of New Orleans for her recording of "Time Is On My Side," which predated the hit version by the Rolling Stones. Otis Redding's hit "Pain In My Heart" was built on an earlier song, "Ruler of My Heart," recorded by Thomas.
Thomas is still active as a performer, appearing annually at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and various tour dates in the US and Europe. She has reigned as Queen of the Krewe du Vieux for the 1998 New Orleans Mardi Gras season and often headlined at her own club, the Lion's Den, which is now out of business due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Irma Thomas has participated in numerous post-Katrina charity projects including The New Orleans Social Club, and won numerous awards including the Offbeat Magazine Award, Mojo Magazine's Legends award, Big Easy Award, a Family Services Award and many more. In 2009, Scott Billington compiled a Rounder records retrospective "Irma Thomas: A 50th Anniversary Celebration of The Soul Queen of New Orleans: " .
Oh Holy Night
Irma Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The stars
Are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear
Saviour's birth
Long lay the world in sin
And error pining
'Til He appeared
It's worth a thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new
And glorious morn
Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel voices
Oh, night divine
Oh, night
When Christ was born
Oh, night divine
Oh night
Oh, Holy night
Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel voices
Oh, night divine
Oh, night
When Christ was born
Oh, night divine
Oh, night
Oh, Holy night
Oh, night divine
Oh, night
When Christ was born
Oh, night divine
Oh night
Oh, Holy night
Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel voices
Oh, night divine
Oh, night
When Christ was born
Oh, night divine
Oh, night
Oh, Holy night
In this song, Irma Thomas is describing a holy night where the stars are bright and shining, and it is the night when the beloved savior, Jesus Christ was born. She talks about how the world has been in a state of sin and error for a long time until the savior, Jesus Christ appeared. The arrival of the savior made the soul feel valued and hopeful. The world was weary until the savior came and brought a new and glorious morning. This morning brought joy to the tired, burdened world. She invites everyone to fall on their knees and hear the voices of the angels.
The repetition of "Oh, Holy Night" and "Oh, night divine" further emphasizes the religious significance of this event. The song highlights the importance of the birth of the savior as the turning point in the history of humanity when the world was shown a future filled with hope, a future where people wouldn't have to look back at their past mistakes and regrets. Instead, they could now focus on the present and future, thanks to the birth of Jesus Christ, the savior.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Holy Night
The night of the savior's birth is revered as a pious occasion
The stars
Are brightly shining
The stars shine brightly as a sign of the birth of Christ
It is the night of the dear
Saviour's birth
This is the night when the beloved savior, the incarnation of God, was born
Long lay the world in sin
And error pining
The world was languishing in the darkness of evil and wrongdoings for a long time
'Til He appeared
And the soul felt
It's worth a thrill of hope
The advent of Christ filled the world with hope, and people's souls became worthy through His arrival
The weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new
And glorious morn
The gloomy world becomes elated as a new break of morning, bringing salvation through Jesus Christ, is upon the world
Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel voices
The song urges people to fall on their knees, quickly and attentively, to hear the angels' songs echoing the arrival of Christ
Oh, night divine
Oh, night
When Christ was born
The song reveres the night as divine and holy when Christ was born
Oh, Holy night
Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel voices
The song urges people to acknowledge the holy night by fell on their knees while listening to the angel's voices
Oh, night divine
Oh, night
When Christ was born
The song holds that the night is divine and holy when Christ was born
Oh, Holy night
Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel voices
The holy night must be celebrated by surrendering oneself and listening to the angels' songs with respect
Oh, night divine
Oh, night
When Christ was born
The night retains the divinity even though Christ was born, and it's still revered as a sacred memory
Oh, night divine
Oh night
Oh, Holy night
The song relentlessly upholds the divinity of the night even as it sings its final verses
Contributed by Isaac J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jesse Mueller
on These Honey Dos
Irma Thomas - These Honey Dos lyrics
V1/
Honey, do you see
While you're sittin' there
Two good legs, two good arms
Your butt stuck in that chair
It's get me this, reach me that
Fry the bacon, feed the cat
You're still in that chair, that's where yer at
C1/
I tried to satisfy
All your wishes and your wants
Soon these Honey Dos
Gonna turn into Don'ts
So honey you'd better choose
Do you want me, or these Honey Dos?
V2/
Honey, when I'm away
You always got to know
Who I see, what I do
And everywhere I go
And it's, while yer out, here's the list
Drop off that, pick up this
Yer still in that chair, that's where you is
C2/
Please don't make me try
To get away from you
I'm right here for ya, baby
But ya gotta give me somethin' too
Honey you'd better choose
Do you want me, or these Honey Dos?
B/
I'd do most everything
That I ever could do
All the love I got
I only give ta you
Honey, if you knew
A lover from a crutch
You'd know that everything yer doin'
Don't amount ta much
V1/
Honey, do you see
While you're sitting there
With two good legs, and two good arms
And your butt still stuck in that chair
It's get me this, reach me that
Fry the bacon, feed the cat
You're still in that chair, just gettin' fat
C1/
Tried to satisfy
All your wishes and your wants
Soon these Honey Dos
Are gonna turn into Don'ts
So honey you'd better choose
Do you want me, or these Honey Dos?
{Honey you'd better choose
Do you want me, or these Honey Dos?} ( 2x )
Spoken:
Honey do this, honey do that
Reach for this, reach for that
Now where is please?
Where is thank you?
Yer making a very large assumption
And you know what they say about the word assumption
Now you know you king of this castle
(As long as I'm in it)
But you gotta put a little please in there sometimes
And every now 'n' then think of some Honey Don'ts to say
Y'know? You got me
I wouldn't stay here, if I didn't love ya
But every now and then, put in some please and thank yous
Do ya Honey Do?
Turn 'em into Honey Don'ts
Moses Davis
on Hurt's All Gone
my goodness ump I cant get enough